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Physical description

Arm badge worn by personnel of the German Railways Armed Forces Traffic Directorate (WVD), Brussels Division, being a woven black rectangle on which a gold German eagle, looking left, clutching a circular wreath in which a swastika. Below, on a concave arc, the letters WVD Brussel, all in gold.

History note

These badges were introduced in September 1941 superseding the German Railway cuff-titles, themselves only introduces some seven months previously, in February 1941. They were worn on the left upper arm of the uniform and usually cut or folded to produce a pointed or curved lower edge.
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The badges combined the German national eagle emblem above the initials of the relevant Railway Directorate, of which there were four (WVD, HVD, RBD & RVD), plus the specific Railway Division, which was usually based on large and important marshalling yards or railway areas.

Over two million American servicemen passed through Britain during the Second World War. In 1944, at the height of activity, up to half a million were based there with the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). Their job was to man and maintain the vast fleets of aircraft needed to attack German cities and industry.